Incoming Senate president to start early LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Senate voted Friday to allow its incoming president to take the reins early, as lawmakers divvied up committee assignments and began preparing for next year's legislative session. Sen. Jonathan Dismang was elected by acclamation to begin work immediately as Senate president, a title he hadn't expected to take until the session begins in January. Dismang was elected to replace former Sen. Michael Lamoureux as the...

Hutchinson backs Webb to stay on as GOP chairman LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson is backing Doyle Webb's bid for a fourth term as chairman of the state Republican Party. The incoming Republican governor endorsed Webb, who is running for another two-year term when GOP state committee meets next month. Webb was first elected state Republican Party chairman in 2008. Webb has chaired the party as it's made dramatic gains in a state that had once been a Democratic holdout in...

What Arkansans should know for health care signup Tens of thousands of Arkansans are expected to take part in the open enrollment period under the federal Affordable Care Act that begins this weekend. Open enrollment begins Saturday and lasts until Feb. 15. Residents can enroll in the health marketplace and renew or change their plan options during this period. The state says more than 44,000 residents enrolled in the health care marketplace for 2014 plans. The nonprofit Arkansas Advocates fo...

Attorney general honors police officers JONESBORO (AP) — A corporal with the Jonesboro Police Department has been named the Arkansas attorney general's outstanding law enforcement officer of the year. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel presented the award Thursday to Cpl. John Eidson. The 20-year veteran of the Jonesboro police force was honored for his actions in a January incident at a mobile home park in which a man opened fire on police. Seven people escaped the home unharmed. McD...

Russellville man killed in crash on' I-40 CONWAY (AP) — Arkansas State Police say a 73-year-old Russellville man died following a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 40 near Conway. A state police report stated Homer Fox, 73, of Russellville died when the car he was driving westbound on I-40 changed lanes and struck a westbound Mack truck. The report stated Fox's car then went off the interstate and crashed and that Fox was taken to a Little Rock hospital where he later died. The repo...

Gov. Beebe to pardon son over marijuana convictionLITTLE ROCK — Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday he plans to pardon his son's felony marijuana conviction, arguing he deserves the same second chance as hundreds of other nonviolent offenders. Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said the two-term Democratic governor would pardon Kyle Beebe, 34, who was convicted in 2003 of felony marijuana possession with intent to deliver. DeCample said the governor planned to formally announce his in...

Arkansas searchers find missing Oklahoma hunterHARTFORD, Ark. (AP) - Authorities in western Arkansas say an Oklahoma man who disappeared while deer hunting has been found safe. Sebastian County Sheriff's Lt. Philip Pevehouse said 22-year-old Wylie Peters was found on Poteau Mountain Tuesday afternoon by a search team that included members of his family. Peters had been last seen Sunday and was reported missing on Monday. Pevehouse said Peters told searchers that he found shelter after beco...

Beebe, economist speaking at state chamber meetingLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and the chief economist for the Heritage Foundation are speaking at the state's largest business group's annual meeting. Beebe and Stephen Moore with the Heritage Foundation are scheduled to speak Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Arkansas state Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas. The group is holding its annual meeting at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown...

Firefighter: Arkansas hotel evacuated due to gasROGERS, Ark. (AP) - Firefighters in northwest Arkansas say no injuries have been reported after a carbon monoxide leak forced the evacuation of a hotel. The Rogers Fire Department tells KHOG-TV (http://bit.ly/1tG2SNr ) that 84 people were evacuated Tuesday night from the Candlewood Suites hotel in Rogers. Firefighters say no one has reported signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. They say the gas leaked from a pool heater. Hotel employees say the...

5 Arkansas schools win Blue Ribbon awardLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Five Arkansas schools have been honored by the U.S. Department of Education as National Blue Ribbon Schools. Education Secretary Arne Duncan recognized the schools at a ceremony Tuesday in Washington. The program honors schools for overall academic excellence or progress made in closing achievement gaps. The Arkansas schools receiving the honor are: Centerpoint Primary School in Glenwood, Eastside Elementary School in ...

Arkansas university gets $1.5 million in grantsPINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has received $1.5 million in federal funding for four agriculture and food science projects. The university's School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences was awarded the grants this week from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. An associate professor of agriculture is using biotechnology to increase the tuber size and yield of locally grown sweet potatoes. A horticulture ...

Police: Arkansas man arrested in prostitution caseFORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) - Fort Smith police have arrested a man who they say promoted prostitution. Sgt. Daniel Grubbs says the 21-year-old man was arrested Tuesday and faces a charge of human trafficking. Undercover officers responded to an online escort advertisement on Nov. 5. That investigation led officers to seek the man, who they say tried to flee out of a bedroom window a few days later. The suspect is being held at the Sebastian County ...

Ouachita County OKs election for hospital taxCAMDEN, Ark. (AP) - The Ouachita County Quorum Court has approved several proposals asking voters to consider a sales tax increase to fund a county hospital. The court passed three ordinances this week calling for a special election on a sales tax increase that would support the Ouachita County Medical Center. A special election is planned for Feb. 10 on three separate proposals that would amount to a 1-cent sales tax increase if all three are...

Cleanup of Majestic Hotel rubble to start soonHOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) - Officials say the latest cleanup plan for the Majestic Hotel in Hot Springs calls for debris removal to start next month. A large fire ripped through the historic hotel in February, prompting the city to raze part of the complex and condemn the rest. Rubble has piled along Park Avenue since the blaze. The owner of the property, Park Residences Development LLC, sent a letter last week to the state's environmental qualit...

1 injured in explosion at house in OsceolaOSCEOLA, Ark. (AP) - Authorities say a woman suffered burn injuries and two homes were destroyed in an explosion in Osceola. Osceola Police Chief David Gladden told reporters that the blast was reported about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday and that it also damaged seven other nearby homes. Investigators said the woman who was burned said she was lighting a cigarette when the explosion occurred, leading authorities to suspect a possible gas leak as the ca...

Arkansas college asking to build $3M events siteLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville wants its board of trustees to approve a nearly $3 million garden and conservatory project. The privately funded Fowler House Garden and Conservatory project would include a structure, designed for events like seated dinners and receptions, on the grounds of the chancellor's residence, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/14dLWJC ) reported Wednesday. The college is al...

Medicaid needs another $84M if tax cuts proceedLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Outgoing Gov. Mike Beebe is recommending an additional $84.2 million in state funding for Arkansas' Medicaid program and $60 million from state surplus funds if lawmakers move forward with tax cuts approved last year. Beebe's administration on Wednesday presented two budget recommendations for the state's Medicaid program, depending on whether lawmakers decide to let the tax cuts take effect. Beebe, a Democrat who is l...

GOP lawmaker drops bid for Senate presidentLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A Republican lawmaker from western Arkansas says he's dropping his bid to unseat the incoming president of the state Senate. Sen. Gary Stubblefield of Branch said Wednesday he's dropping his effort to unseat incoming Senate President Jonathan Dismang. Stubblefield last week said he planned to challenge Dismang, a Republican who was elected last year to lead the 35-member Senate. Stubblefield had criticized Dismang for ...

Railroad crossing closes in North Little RockNORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas transportation officials say travelers in North Little Rock should plan for a detour around a railroad crossing. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department says a Union Pacific Railroad Crossing on State Highway 176 in North Little Rock will close at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Work crews will conduct emergency railroad repairs. Officials estimate the crossing will be closed for about eight hours.

Little Rock 9 member to speak on Bates' birthdayLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - One of nine students who integrated Arkansas' Little Rock Central High School in 1957 will help commemorate what would be the 100th birthday of civil rights activist Daisy Bates. The Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock says Ernest Green will give a speech about civil rights at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Green is managing director of public finance for Lehman Brothers in the District of Columbia and has been awarded th...